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The Urbanist’s Tokyo: Where to Stay

By Daniel Krieger

Published Nov 20, 2011

The lounge at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

(Photo: Courtesy of Hyatt Hotels)

Where the Locals Would Stay If They Weren’t Locals

“At the Granbell Hotel Shibuya (from $171; granbellhotel.jp), right in the heart of the city, the types of rooms range from cozy budget singles to luxury suites with spiral staircases and gorgeous views. And in the morning, you get a nice Japanese breakfast.” —Megumi Hanami, ad salesperson

“Hotel Claska (from $124; claska.com/en/hotel), if you’re into modern Japanese design. There’s a gallery and four floors of rooms, each showing a different aspect of Japanese aesthetics through the eyes of a prominent designer. Kaname Okajima’s take on the tatami room is especially fresh.” —Brett Larner, editor of Japan Running News

“Some rooms at the Peninsula Tokyo (from $566; peninsula.com/tokyo) overlook the Imperial Palace gardens; all of them have nail dryers. But if you’re a fan of Lost in Translation, book the Park Hyatt Tokyo (from $640; tokyo.park.hyatt.com). You won’t have to crouch down to take a shower like Bill Murray.” —Shino Shinjyo, hotel blogger